EDWARDSVILLE — An Alton man took the witness stand Thursday and said he was afraid an officer he did not know was going to kill him in regards to the day he was arrested on various charges.

Aaron E. Crowder, 44, of the 700 block of Highland Avenue, arrested on charges of disarming a police officer and aggravated battery to a police officer, testified that, despite his fear, he did not disarm the officer of his Taser, did not attempt to grab Pfc. Mike Morelli’s service revolver, as alleged, and did not bite Morelli. He claimed he went quietly and did not try to resist.

Crowder is on trial before Circuit Judge Kyle Napp and is being prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Tom Irvin and Katie Bucher-Warren. Crowder is represented by Morgan Scroggins and Phil Baldwin.

Asked by Assistant State’s Attorney Tom Irvin if he was afraid of dying on the day of the incident, Crowder answered, “I did die, but Jesus saved me.” He testified he did not run from Morelli or try to grab his service revolver, despite being afraid for his life. Crowder testified several times that he was afraid he was gong to die that day. “As soon as he put the cuffs on me, I knew I was going to die,” he said.

He said that, when Morelli employed police dog Jax, the dog bit Morelli, not the defendant. He claimed Morelli directed the dog to attack the defendant, not the officer.

He denied biting Morelli, despite the fact that hospital records listed a human bite mark as the cause of Morelli’s injury.

Crowder claimed that he was shot three times with a Taser, not twice, as previously testified. He said the prongs from the Taser had an effect, despite Morelli’s testimony that the device failed. He claimed Morelli shot himself with the Taser, even though Morelli testified earlier that one of the prongs from the device accidentally grazed him.

For the first time Thursday, Crowder said that Morelli dragged him around the yard of a home in the 700 block of Highland Avenue for 20 minutes. He claimed Morelli attached him to a utility pole using the handcuffs.

Crowder dodged Irwin’s question about whether Crowder had a financial interest in the case. Irwin asked him if he was suing anyone in federal court over the incident. “Who am I suing?” Crowder asked twice. When asked specifically if he was suing the city of Alton, Morelli and a “Good Samaritan” passerby, Crowder admitted that he is.

Before the defendant testified, “Good Samaritan” Jeff Henderson, a former military policeman, testified that he came upon the scene and saw Crowder kicking and swinging at Morelli. Henderson said he asked the officer if he could help, and Morelli consented. He testified he helped get Crowder on the ground until Jax intervened.

Both sides rested Thursday, and closing arguments are scheduled for Friday.